Why did Jesus Die?

Scripture quotations are from the EasyEnglish Bible Copyright © MissionAssist 2018, 2024 – UK Charitable Incorporated Organisation 1162807. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.easyenglish.bible 

1 Timothy 1:12-17 (This is part of a letter from Paul to Timothy)

12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has made me strong to serve Him. He decided to trust me and He chose me to work on His behalf. 

13 Before He chose me, I said bad things about Him. I caused great trouble for His people. I was a cruel man, but God was very kind to me. He  forgave me because I did not know what I was doing. That was because I did not believe in Jesus. 

14 Our Lord continued to be very good and kind to me. He caused me to believe in Christ Jesus and to love Him.

15 Here is a true message that everyone should believe: ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save people who do wrong things.’ I am the worst person like that! 

16 But God was kind to me. Christ Jesus showed that He was completely patient with me, the worst person. That was an example to those people who would later believe in Him. They would believe and receive life forever with God.

17  Praise God, the King who rules forever! He can never die. He lives where we cannot see Him. He is the only God. So praise Him and say how great He is! That is true always and forever!  Amen *.

 

Romans 5: 6, 7 and 8 (This is part of Paul’s letter to the believers in Rome)

6 At one time we were weak and we could not help ourselves. Then, at the right time, Christ died to save us. He died on behalf of people who have turned away from God. 

7 Nobody will agree to die on behalf of another person, even if that person has done what is right. Maybe someone might be brave enough to die on behalf of a person who is very good. 

8 But God has shown us how much he loves us. Even when we still did not obey God, Christ died on our behalf.

_____________________

Important Vocabulary to Learn 

(Some of these words come from the readings and some come from the questions below.)

1. Words from the first 1000 high frequency General Service Word List

agree, another, believe (in), brave, caused, cannot (can’t), chose, complete(ly), continue(d), die(d)/death, even (if), example, fair, follow(ing), goodness, great, help, important, kind(ness), later, Lord, maybe, obey, only, ourselves, people/person, receive, reply, rules, save, serve, show(ed), someone, strong, trouble, true, trust, turn(ed) (away from), wrong

(And all the other words in the reading that are not listed in numbers 2, 3 and 4 below.)

2. Words from the second 1000 high frequency General Service Word List

brave, cruel, forgave, message, obey, patient, practise, thank(ful), weak, (the) worst

3. Academic High Frequency Word List 

behalf

4. Off List Words 

forever

5. Glossary of Special Terms (These words are marked with a *)

Amen - This word comes from the Hebrew language. It means ‘truly,’ ‘it is true,’ or ‘so be it.’ It is used as the last word of a prayer or to show strong agreement, trust, and belief.

-----------------------------------------

Learning Questions and Activities 

1. Remembering - Why does Paul (the writer of the book of Romans) say he ‘was the worst person’? (Check your answer in 1 Timothy 1: 13.) 

Paul says that the Lord ‘continued to be very good and kind’ to him, even though he was such a bad person. What did God do for Paul that showed Paul that He (God) loved him (Paul)? (Check your answer in verse 1 Timothy 1:14.)

2. Understanding - Does God wait until we are good enough before He saves us? How do you know? What gets in the way and stops people from believing and following Jesus? (Take another look at Romans 5:6 and 8.)

3. Applying - Do you ever do things that are wrong? Why is the death of Jesus important? Is it important to you? Do you believe that Jesus died to save you? (Give a reason for your answer.) 

Paul says that God chose him, and caused him to believe. You can read more about how this took place in Acts chapter nine, https://www.easyenglish.bible/bible/easy/acts/9/ (In the 'Acts' reading Paul is called 'Saul'.) If you believe in Jesus, how would you explain to someone that it is God who caused you to believe in Jesus and to love Him? If you do not yet believe in Jesus, what does this reading tell you about how God can save you? 

4. Analysing - Look at this list. Which words talk about Paul before God saved him. Which words talk about Paul after God saved him. Which words talk about what God is like? Put the words into the right box below. Use the reading to help you.

strong / causes trouble / serves / chooses / rules / never dies / cruel / kind / believes / says bad things / forgives / believes / saves / patient / receives life / good / does not obey

5. Evaluating - What does the death of Jesus tell us about the kind of God we have?  (Take another look at Romans 5:8.) How does it make you think and feel to know that Jesus (who never did anything wrong) died for people who do wrong things? Do you think this is fair? Why/Why not? Paul says that God 'continued to be very good and kind' to him, even before he believed in Jesus (when he was still doing bad things). How should we reply to God's goodness and kindness? How can we show Him, and others, that we are thankful to Him?

6. Creating -

Writing

Make a 'Thank You God' notebook. Each day, write the date, and then, at the end of the day, write down something that you can say 'thank you' to God for. (For example, it can be something that took place that day or something you thought about, or an answer to a prayer.) Remember to pray and say 'thank you' to God Himself for His goodness to you each day.

At the end of each week, share your 'Thank You God' notes with someone. (Do this in English, if possible. If not, share it with someone who speaks your language.) Say why you wrote each note, and why you are thankful. 

Speaking

Make some notes about what you have learned from the readings above. You are going to tell someone what you learned. Practise what you are going to say first, then share what you have learned with someone. Ask them to think of one or two questions for you about what you told them. Do your best to answer their questions.

Drawing

If you like drawing, make a cartoon that has three pictures. (Use the shapes below.) In space one, draw a picture that shows what Paul was like before God saved Him. Then, in space two, show what Paul was like after God saved him. In spaces one and two, put one of the words that Paul used about himself in the readings above. In space three write down the words that show what God is like. Use your answers to question 4 (Analysing) above. Use nice colours to make it all look good. When you have finished, share your drawings with someone and explain what you learned from the readings above.